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No. 609,923. Patented Aug. 30, I898. G. H. TUTTLE.

INHALER.

(Application filed Aug. 18, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ll. TUTTLE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- TIIIRDTO FRANK H. WILLARD, OF SAME PLACE.

INHALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 609,923, dated August30, 1898. Application filed August 13, 1897. Serial No. 648,648. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. TUTTLE, of Cambridge, county of Middlesex,State of 7 Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Inhalers, ofwhich the following de:

scription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the pro- IO duction of a novel inhalerfor the administration of anesthetics and other medical agents-such asether, chloroform, &c.--my improved inhaler being flexible and easilycarried in a doctors bag or pocket, it taking I 5 up but the minimum ofroom.

The inhaler to be herein described, it embodying my invention, iscomposed of a flexible textile substance, preferably felt, and thisflexible substance is rendered etherproof, and preferably the outer sideof the inhaler is enameled, I preferring to use an enamel to finish thesaid surface.

The inhaler is held in working position by means of suitable fastenings,herein shown as of the ball-and-socket variety.

Figure 1 shows my inhaler applied. Fig.

2 shows it opened and laid out flat; and Fig.

3 is an enlarged section in the line 00, Fig. 2.

All inhalers require two thingsan absorbent to hold the ether or otheranesthetic and a framework therefor; but so far as known to me in allinhalers heretofore the,

absorbent is distinct from the framework.

It is one of the main objects of the present 3 5 invention to provide aninhaler which shall economize the ether and hold enough ether atonefilling for a usual operation and yet be substantially complete in onesingle piece. A main novelty of my invention resides in providing acomposite fabricwhich in itself constitutes the impervious shell,framework, and absorbent s'urface, thereby materially simplifying theinhaler without loss of effectiveness, decreasing the cost ofmanufacture, increasing the surface of evaporation, and in connectionwith other features of the invention preventing the loss of any etherduring the anesthetizing and affording a compact and complete inhalerconvenient for the pocket and always ready for immediate use. Referringto the drawings, more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that thecomposite fabric which composes the body of my inhaler A is made up ofone or more layers,

as a, of felt or other material extremely absorbent of ether,chloroform, and other anesthetics, part or all of this absorbentmaterial being on that side of the fabric which is to constitute theinside of the cone presently to be described, and within the fabric theabsorbent material thereof is provided with a coating or layer f ofmaterial which is impervious to the passage of ether, &c., such asgum-arabic or basic silicate, the outside of the fabric preferablyhaving a surface-finishing coat 6 of flexible slightly rigid substance,such as celluloid, to prevent contamination by the hand, permit theinhaler to be readily washed, and give it form and desired rigidity andsupport. The inhaler A is cut from the composite fabric described intosubstantially the shape shown in Fig. 2, cutting out from the same atits shorter edge a notch b,preferably slightly larger than a semicircle,the longer edge being cut in a curved line approximately, as shown inFig. 2, so as to conform in use to the contour of the face, as shown inFig. 1. The two straight edges a at opposite sides of the notch 19 arearranged to overlap, so as to make a tight joint, there being providedslightly back from one of the edges a a series of headed studs 0, andslightly back from the other edge a aseries of cups, said studs and cupsconstituting one form of ball-and-socket fastening, so that the inhaler8 5 may be quickly rolled together for use into the shape shown in Fig.l and its overlapped edges a snapped together by the fastenings c c, orthe edges may be instantly pulled apart and the inhaler straightened outflat 0 for insertion in the pocket or case.

The fastenings c c are in a line approxi mately coincident with thediameter of the circular notch 19 before mentioned, so that when thefastenings are closed down on each 5 other the inhaler A assumes theform of a truncated cone, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, requiring that theair shall all be inhaled through the restricted central aperture 1) andbringing substantially the entire inner surface of the inhaler withinthe direct influence of the heat from the breath of the patient.

evaporating-surface, such as a bunch of ab sorbent cotton or othermeans, is simply poured directly onto the inner surface of the coneitself, and the latter receives it in large quantities. Thereby theinhaler presents an unusually large extent of evaporating-surface andthis is presented directly to the patient, the evaporation being furtheraided by the heat from the breath falling directly on the absorbentsurface of the inhaler.

Secured adjacent the aperture 17 I provide asponge or other suitablesubstance g, which restricts the amount of air which may be re ceivedthrough the aperture and which may also receive ether and serves tocatch any drops thereof which might otherwise drip therefrom when theether is being poured onto the walls of the cone. This sponge is securedby a cord or fastening g, preferably elastic,to a button or stud h onthe outside of the inhaler, so that it occupies a position, as shown inFig. 1, loosely closing the open ing and being automatically pulledforward with a constant pressure, so that the fastening 2) remainssnugly bearing over the outer edge of the air inlet or opening I).

From the above description it will be evident that my improved inhalerprovides in one single piece and in small and exceedingly compact formall the requirements called for in the use of such an instrument andthat in addition thereto the inhaler is capable of receiving an unusualamount of ether on an extremely extended evaporating-surface, the latterbeing coextensive with the inclosed area of the inhaler exposed to thepatient. On this account the effectiveness of the inhaler is superior,and also, because of its shape and structure, its convenience is muchincreased over all other inhalers with which I am familiar. I make noclaim to novelty in respect to the conical form nor to the employment ofa sponge, nor to an inhaler having its edges detachablyfastened at oneside, broadly considered; but so far as I am aware the onlydetachably-fastened inhaler heretofore suggested consisted of a stiffsheet-metal tube having a permanently tubular shape and within which aseparate and entirely independent holder for the ether might be placed,the only reason for the detachable fastening of the permanently-curvedinhaler being so that convenient access might be had for the removal andinsertion of the holder for the ether.

-The ball-and-socket fastenings are very handy and convenient; but thisinvention is not limited to a fastening of only such construction, as:any other usual or suitable fastening means may be employed instead.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. An inhaler comprising a single piece of fabric having when in usesubstantially the form of a cone, said fabric being on its inner sideextremely absorbent of ether, chloroform, and other anesthetics, andhaving intermediate its outer and inner surfaces a substance resistantto the passage of ether, &c., the outer surface of said fabric beinghard, flexible, and slightly resilient, whereby the one piece of fabricis capable .of automatically maintaining a permanent form and ofreceiving a large amount of anesthetic, providing at the same time anextended evaporatingsurface therefor, while being impervious to thepassage of the anesthetic through it from the inside out, substantiallyas described.

2. An inhaler having on its inner side an absorbentand evaporatingsurface for the ether or other anesthetic, on its outer side a coatingrendering it slightly rigid and resilient, and intermediate said innerand outer sides a layer impervious to the passage therethrough of theether, &c., said inner side, outer side, and intermediate layer beingformed integrally with each other in one fabric, substantially asdescribed.

' 3. An inhaler in the form of a cone having a relatively smallair-opening at its apex, and a sponge positively held at the extremesmall end of the cone and into the said opening, thereby definitelyclosing the latter as desired, said cone having absorbent material forthe ether throughout its entire inside area, substantially as described.

4. An inhaler consisting of 'a flexible and slightly-resilient materialnormally extending out flat in one sheet but capable of being rolledinto the form of a truncated cone, and having when flat a notch ino'ne'edge approximately semicircular in shape, a short, straight edge aextending from said notch at the opposite edges thereof, said twostraight edges being in line with each other and substantially in linewith the diameter of saidnotch, said material having the remainder ofits perimeter from the remote ends of said two short, straight edges acut on a curved line to conform, when the inhaler is in its conical formfor use, to the contour of the face, said inhaler being providedslightly back from its said short, straight edges with cooperatingfastenings adapted to secure said edges together when overlapped for usein the said form of a truncated cone and adapted to be quicklyunfastened for detaching said edges from each other when it is desiredthat the inhaler should assume its said normal fiat .form when not inuse, said inhaler being made in one piece of fabric, said fabric beingon its inner side extremely absorbent of ether, chloand securing meansfor said sponge fastened to said stud and adapted to extend over the I 5adjacent edge of said notch and hold the sponge into the opening of theinhaler when the latter is rolled into its conical form, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 20 name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. TUTTLE. Witnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, ll/IARGARET A. DUNN.

